April 1, 2001
DAVID RECORDS THIRD COMPLETE GAME OF SEASON IN PALADIN 7-1 VICTORY
STATESBORO, Ga. Toby David pitched his third complete game of the season to lead visiting Furman a 7-1 victory over Georgia Southern in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday at J.I. Clements Stadium.
David (6-2) surrendered just five hits and one walk while striking out nine
in nine innings of work, needing only 121 pitches in defeating the Eagles (19-11,
8-7). Furman (18-13, 8-6) opened the scoring in the top of the third inning
as leadoff man Clint Hill reached on an error by Eagle first baseman Jason Hinely.
Derek Norman then hit into a fielder's choice before Ryan Presnell singled
to move Norman into scoring position. Dominic Frankey followed with a single
to plate Norman and give the Paladins a 1-0 advantage.
Furman added two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth off of Presnell's third home run of the season to push its lead to 5-0 before Georgia Southern plated a run in the bottom of the fifth.
Rocky Baker led off the GSU fifth with a single but was erased on a J.R. Revere fielder's choice. Chris Walker then grounded out to second base, moving Revere into scoring position. David's first pitch to Jemel Spearman eluded Paladin catcher Justin Maderer and rolled to the backstop allowing Revere to score from second for the lone Eagle run.
Furman chased Georgia Southern starter Daniel Wheeler (3-3) in the sixth inning after Norman collected a one-out single and rightfielder Chris Valdes followed with a single to left field. Eagle reliever Brian Rogers ended the Paladin threat by striking out Presnell and Frankey to close out the inning.
Furman added a single run in the seventh on an RBI double by Adam Etherington and another in the ninth, off of a run scoring single by Etherington, to close out the scoring.
Etherington collected three hits and three RBI in five at-bats on the day while Presnell was 2-of-4 with two RBI.Chris Walker, Scott Henley, Baker, Hinely and A.J. Zickgraf all collected a hit apiece for Georgia Southern.
Georgia Southern returns to action Tuesday when it travels to Georgia for a 6:30 p.m. start at Foley Field. The Paladins will play South Carolina Tuesday in Greenville, S.C. at Greenville Braves Stadium beginning at 7:00 p.m.